City of Melrose Seeks Local Organizations to Offer Volunteer Opportunities for MHS Post Grads

The City of Melrose is seeking local organizations—businesses and nonprofits—that can offer volunteer opportunities to the students participating in the Melrose High School Special Education Department Post Graduate Program that provides life skills and vocational opportunities for Melrose special-education students ages 18-22.

For students in the MHS Post Graduate program, their focus is on gaining vocational and employment skills from various settings, such as volunteering opportunities and work site opportunities. Through these experiences and training from MHS job coaches, such as Kathy Bourque, they obtain communication skills, community skills, independent living skills, and functional academic skills related to navigating the world as individuals transition to adulthood.

"Through our program, we are always seeking new opportunities for our postgraduate students to get out into the community and practice their job skills,” said Bourque. “Participating in the community is one of our favorite things to do with our students, as it gives them an opportunity to learn about different careers they may be interested in. Engaging with our community is of great importance to us and our students, and we’re hoping that we can find more to do around Melrose!"

In collaboration with the MHS Special Education Department, the Mayor’s Office provides a weekly volunteer opportunity for the students in the Post Graduate Program. In the Mayor’s Office, the students complete major mailing projects and other key administrative tasks.

“We are delighted to partner with the Post Graduate Program and offer students a weekly volunteer opportunity in City Hall,” said Mayor Paul Brodeur. “In addition to strengthening their vocational skills and social skills, the students provide meaningful service in their own community and are a delight to have in our office. I am particularly grateful to Kathy Bourque, as well as our other MHS job coaches and special education teachers, who work with our post graduates day in and day out.”

Jobs that the students participating in the MHS Post Graduate Program would like to complete include, but are not limited to:

• Shredding/Copying
• Stuffing Envelopes
• Cleaning/Dusting/Trash pickup
• Shopping/Taking food orders
• Rolling Silverware/napkins
• Watering plants/gardening
• Mail Delivery
• Setting up tables for events

Melrose businesses and nonprofits who would like to partner with the MHS Post Grad Program to offer students volunteer opportunities should email Special Education Teacher Robert Ascolillo at rascolillo@melroseschools.com.